Man jailed for stabbing friend after argument

A man who left a friend close to death after stabbing him twice in the street has been jailed.

Luke Foreman pulled out a large kitchen knife during an argument with Charlie Johns in Park Gate, Hampshire, in November 2025, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

Johns suffered "massive internal bleeding" and had to have his spleen removed in hospital, the court was told.

Foreman, 22, from Fareham, previously pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, possessing a blade, stealing a crate of beer from a shop and assault by beating of a shop worker. He was handed a three-year sentence, up to half of which will be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

Judge James Newton-Price KC told the defendant: "You are very fortunate that the knife you used did not cause a fatal injury.

"If the knife had gone in a different way, you could have been looking at a sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years."

The court heard Foreman and Johns, who had been drinking, tried to walk out of a Morrisons shop with crates of beer on 25 November.

Foreman pushed and threatened a shop worker who challenged him.

About 20 minutes later, the two friends began to argue and fight in Hunts Pond Road.

Foreman pulled a foot-long knife with an 8in (20cm) blade from his waistband and stabbed Johns twice in the abdomen, the court heard.

The victim was only saved by first aid and emergency surgery at Southampton General Hospital, the judge said.

Foreman later flagged down a police officer and said: "I'm the one you're looking for."

The defendant turned to drink and cocaine after his parents split in 2022, the court was told.

While former window cleaner Foreman was in custody following his arrest, his father died suddenly in April, and he was granted leave from prison so he could attend the funeral.

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